Vivien Kapsiak, pharmacist, teacher

Vivien S. Kapsiak of Ridgefield, a pharmacist who was also a teacher for 25 years, died on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2005, at Bethel Health Care. She was 76 years old.

Mrs. Kapsiak was born in Long Branch, N.J., on Dec. 3, 1928, daughter of Herbert T. and Bessie Wagner Smith, and attended New Jersey schools.

As a geology and biology major, she graduated from Rutgers University at the age of 18, received her master’s degree from Fordham University, and was certified in advanced studies from Wesleyan University.

Mrs. Kapsiak moved to Ridgefield from Mount Kisco, N.Y., in 1971. Her career included working as a pharmacist for a New York hospital, teaching earth science in Brewster High School, and most recently, working as a pharmacist at the Rite Aid Pharmacy of Danbury.

Mrs. Kapsiak was a member of the New York State Teachers Association, the Connecticut Pharmaceutical Association, the Revivers Ñ a breast cancer support group in Ridgefield, and Ann’s Place: the home of I Can, in Danbury. She was also a 20-year member of Alcoholics Anonymous and belonged to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury.

Mrs. Kapsiak is survived by three sons, Eric R. Kaye and his wife Nancy of Northampton, Mass., Douglas A. Kaye and his wife Karen of Sugar Land, Texas, and Roger Kaye and his wife Teresa and their children Justin, Hyla and Evan of Fort Ann, N.Y., and her former husband Gorden Kaye of Garrison, N.Y.

The Rev. Dr. Linda Hanson of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury led a Celebration of Life Tuesday in the Kane Funeral Home.